The City’s single family curbside recycling and yard trimmings collection programs divert only 23% of the waste generated by that sector.

Commercial and multi-family facilities divert only 26% of the waste they generate.

Worse, the City is setting a bad example with only a 27% waste diversion rate at the City’s own facilities.

By comparison, most mature curbside recycling programs achieve at least a 40% rate of diversion and commercial rates can often be significantly higher than that.

Organics make up 1/3 of landfilled materials in the City of San Diego.

Food waste makes up 15% (approx 200,000 tons) of materials discarded in San Diego. This shows both how far behind the City is, and how much opportunity there is for composting and other waste reduction and diversion practices.

What’s Happening in the Region:

While getting to Zero Waste is undoubtedly a challenge, the good news is that we’re already on our way in several cities around the region:

City Of San Diego

2016 – July 19: The City of San Diego became the 150th jurisdiction in California to adopt a ban on single-use plastic bags. The measure is effective September 2016. Learn more here.

The City is also working to achieve:

By 2020: 75% diversion of waste from landfills into recycling, compost and reuse to meet state law, which means an additional 332,000 tons per year must be diverted from landfill disposal.

By 2035: 90% diversion, as part of the City’s Climate Action Plan (December 2015).